A Last Turn for 'Wheel'

Updated Jan. 17, 2013 6:42 p.m. ET

Millions of fantasy fans around the world this month are diving into "A Memory of Light," the volume that closes the epic series "The Wheel of Time" after 23 years, 14 books, 44 million copies sold—and the death, six years ago, of series creator Robert Jordan.

The series chronicles the efforts of farm boy Rand al'Thor to save the world, and grew to encompass more than 2,000 characters. After Mr. Jordan died from a rare blood ailment, amyloidosis, his widow and sole editor, Harriet McDougal, chose series...